Component 2: Safeguard rural marketing linkages and food security
Sub-component 2.1: Support to digital marketing
The ESRF, in collaboration with WFP, was to develop the FBO's capacities for digital marketing, strengthen their marketing self-reliance and diversify their output markets. WFP supported GCX in conducting high-level stakeholder sensitization meetings for government staff, local authorities, development partners and private sector agencies, as well as conducted community engagements and radio programmes in Ghana. These workshops and trainings were aimed to empower smallholder farmers and various stakeholders to trade through the GCX e-commerce platform. In total, the initiative physically engaged 2,612 stakeholders and various value chain actors. The radio programmes reached out to an estimated number of 50,000 farmers in 5 regions.
Sub-component 2.2: Market infrastructure development
The investments in the public goods were introduced as part of the project restructuring exercise undertaken in May 2023. The infrastructure introduced are: (i) Farm tracks; (ii) drying platforms; (iii) water harvesting structure; and (iv) boreholes.
The farm tracks provide market access to 11 farmer-based organizations comprising a target of 550 smallholder farmers and 5,500 residents in surrounding communities. The investment in farm tracks was the most significant and transformative investment provided through ESRF. The roads provided included sufficient drainage with an adequate number of often double barrel culverts.
As part of the project’s objective to build the resilience of smallholders, the Project is also constructing water harvesting (contour bund) facilities on 200 ha area within the rice valleys, along with 16 concrete all-weather surfaced drying platforms. The drying platform used modern and sustainable construction practices incorporating SECAP considerations. The contour bunds are considered low maintenance and high-impact intervention which is ideal for rice farming and has the potential to significantly increase yields with opportunities for crop diversification and drought mitigation.
The construction of 20 community boreholes is underway across 4 districts and 3 regions in collaboration with the Community Water & Sanitation Agency (CWSA). The borehole interventions are primarily for domestic water supply.
